![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
[It's an average day for Karamatsu Matsuno. One of those days where he and his brothers spent several long hours of their morning just sitting around in the den not really doing much of anything. Nothing productive, that's for sure. Once their daily nothing quota had been filled, they split off to do their own thing. Karamatsu had been planning on heading to the roof to practice with his guitar as usual, but something stopped him today.
Maybe he'd go fishing instead.
He struck out for town, thinking about the events of that morning as he made his way, hands pushed into his jacket pockets. He thinks about how he and his brothers talked about things over breakfast, and about how- when he started to talk about an interesting dream he'd had that night- Osomatsu talked over him and said something about trying his hand at Pachinko today. Jyushimatsu asked Todomatsu to pass the soy sauce. Soon, what Karamatsu said was forgotten and they continued as normal. He said nothing and kept eating, listening to the others chat away.
It was normal. That's just how things went, and soon Karamatsu forgot just as quickly as his brothers did. He never paid mind to the way it was just a little bit harder to keep smiling each time it happened, but it wasn't noticeable enough to be an issue.
He finds himself stopping near the bridge that crosses the canal splitting the two sides of the city, leaning against the edge of the railing so he can watch people walking in and out of a nearby string of stores. Nobody looked his way as they passed, even though he'd been this way so many times that even complete strangers seemed familiar sometimes.]
[Truly, shopping for new sandals should not be such an ordeal.
This is a new part of town for Aya, explored on the advice of a recent customer for the flower shop. And it wasn't that the expedition itself had been troublesome. She found the area and the shoe store along the strip of shops by the canal just fine. She'd even found a few other stores she wanted to come back to on a day she had more time to kill. No, the problem with her excursion was that the selection at this particular shop was far too amazing and the prices just a little too high, limiting her budget to one pair.
This was the heart of her dilemma. After weighing all the options for comfort, style, versatility and being flattering on her feet, she had it down to two, and there she was stuck. Pity Sakura wasn't around to tote on these shopping adventures anymore; she really would have liked her friend's opinion right about then.
Never let it be said Aya was lacking in resourcefulness, however. No friend on site? No problem: make a new one! She frowns and scans the streets for someone to tug over. Most of them are en route to somewhere else, of course-- better not to flag down one of them. They'll be wanting to get to where they're going. She sees someone hanging out on the bridge though... he doesn't look busy. Bonus: leather jacket and shades! Aya hastily drops the shoes and hurries over, and she has to stop herself from just grabbing his arm and starting to tug him over preemptively. Instead, she tucks a bit of hair behind her ear and flashes a hopeful smile.]
Excuse me! Are you busy? I just need a cool person's opinion on something, won't take a minute! Will you help me?
This is a new part of town for Aya, explored on the advice of a recent customer for the flower shop. And it wasn't that the expedition itself had been troublesome. She found the area and the shoe store along the strip of shops by the canal just fine. She'd even found a few other stores she wanted to come back to on a day she had more time to kill. No, the problem with her excursion was that the selection at this particular shop was far too amazing and the prices just a little too high, limiting her budget to one pair.
This was the heart of her dilemma. After weighing all the options for comfort, style, versatility and being flattering on her feet, she had it down to two, and there she was stuck. Pity Sakura wasn't around to tote on these shopping adventures anymore; she really would have liked her friend's opinion right about then.
Never let it be said Aya was lacking in resourcefulness, however. No friend on site? No problem: make a new one! She frowns and scans the streets for someone to tug over. Most of them are en route to somewhere else, of course-- better not to flag down one of them. They'll be wanting to get to where they're going. She sees someone hanging out on the bridge though... he doesn't look busy. Bonus: leather jacket and shades! Aya hastily drops the shoes and hurries over, and she has to stop herself from just grabbing his arm and starting to tug him over preemptively. Instead, she tucks a bit of hair behind her ear and flashes a hopeful smile.]
Excuse me! Are you busy? I just need a cool person's opinion on something, won't take a minute! Will you help me?
[Well she's definitely in luck, because Karamatsu is never busy, nor does he ever really know where he's going. One thing he isn't used to, however, is having strangers come up and talk to him first, particularly not other girls. Especially not girls like Aya, who are so far out of Karamatsu's league that they might as well be on another planet. It's for this reason that he doesn't realize she's even talking to him until she says the one word that gets his attention.]
...Cool?
[He echoes, reaching up to pull his glasses down just enough so he can peer at her over the top of them, as if doing so would make her disappear and turn out to be some sort of daydream he'd imagined up. But there she is, smiling up at him so sweetly that he can feel his heart clenching in his chest. He actually has to pause to find his voice, something that doesn't happen often with Karamatsu.
Just like that he's back in action, pushing his glasses back into place as he mirrors her grin with one of his own, his other hand moving to brush his bangs out of his eyes.]
Well, you've asked the right person. Whatever help you need, I will assist you, my dear.
[He could cry, he could really cry. Has one of his Karamatsu girls finally arrived? He wishes someone was around to pinch him, but he doesn't want to wake up either.]
...Cool?
[He echoes, reaching up to pull his glasses down just enough so he can peer at her over the top of them, as if doing so would make her disappear and turn out to be some sort of daydream he'd imagined up. But there she is, smiling up at him so sweetly that he can feel his heart clenching in his chest. He actually has to pause to find his voice, something that doesn't happen often with Karamatsu.
Just like that he's back in action, pushing his glasses back into place as he mirrors her grin with one of his own, his other hand moving to brush his bangs out of his eyes.]
Well, you've asked the right person. Whatever help you need, I will assist you, my dear.
[He could cry, he could really cry. Has one of his Karamatsu girls finally arrived? He wishes someone was around to pinch him, but he doesn't want to wake up either.]
[Something about him is weirdly cute, Aya thinks. She can't quite describe what it is. An air about him that he isn't quite as above-it-all as his appearance first suggests. She likes it; it makes him more approachable. He's personable, too, not seeming to have any reservations about offering help even to a stranger. Aya beams more broadly.]
Perfect! It's just over here, at the shoe store...
[With a bounce in her step, Aya leads him back from the bridge, her twin plaits bobbing and swishing to the beat of her stride. The two pairs of shoes are right where she left them; Aya quickly kicks off her owned pair and slides her feet into one of each sandal she's agonizing over. Then she turns around and clasps her hands behind her.]
Which one?
Perfect! It's just over here, at the shoe store...
[With a bounce in her step, Aya leads him back from the bridge, her twin plaits bobbing and swishing to the beat of her stride. The two pairs of shoes are right where she left them; Aya quickly kicks off her owned pair and slides her feet into one of each sandal she's agonizing over. Then she turns around and clasps her hands behind her.]
Which one?
[Aya would probably be the first to call Karamatsu approachable. It's more common that people are trying to get as far away from him as possible, or trying to distract his attention so they can ditch him while he's not looking. Usually not hard when he gets wrapped up in one of his trademark, painful speeches about something or other.
Karamatsu follows Aya over to the shop, still marveling over his unbelievable luck. Luck that he doesn't usually have. But he just needs to play it cool...maybe then nothing will happen to make this go awry.
His interest is not at all feigned when she shows him the shoes, a hand lifting to rest thoughtfully against his chin. Or maybe he's...posing? Probably both.]
My...you have a rather keen eye for fashion. I dare say that both pairs look absolutely stunning on you.
[Which is the exact opposite of helpful.]
Karamatsu follows Aya over to the shop, still marveling over his unbelievable luck. Luck that he doesn't usually have. But he just needs to play it cool...maybe then nothing will happen to make this go awry.
His interest is not at all feigned when she shows him the shoes, a hand lifting to rest thoughtfully against his chin. Or maybe he's...posing? Probably both.]
My...you have a rather keen eye for fashion. I dare say that both pairs look absolutely stunning on you.
[Which is the exact opposite of helpful.]
Oh, stop! [Aya says this with a laugh and just a slight blush, her hand lifting to half-cover her smile.] You're not helping!...
[It'd be a lie to say it wasn't appreciated, though. What girl didn't like being complimented? Even if it is a little cheesy.]
[It'd be a lie to say it wasn't appreciated, though. What girl didn't like being complimented? Even if it is a little cheesy.]
But it's the truth!
[In all honesty, it would be easy to just pick one or the other to appease her. They're both equally nice pairs of shoes...but Karamatsu knows that isn't quite going to do.
He tips his head to the side slightly, raising a brow behind those shades of his.]
Actually...how about I purchase the second pair for you?
[It's said before he can stop himself or even rethink that offer. How much are the shoes? Does he even have enough to buy them? Surely, he must...even if he has to give up every last cent on his person.]
[Aya's expression quickly shifts from good humor to horrified shock. Wow, that escalated fast! Where did that come from? Maybe he means well, but it's way too much. These are expensive shoes, and they're perfect strangers.]
No, that's okay! I didn't mean it like that at all... I was just looking for a quick opinion.
No, that's okay! I didn't mean it like that at all... I was just looking for a quick opinion.
[Karamatsu just shakes his head, seemingly unphased by how much the shoes may or may not be.]
I know- but I think those shoes would be put to far better use in your possession! Then their beauty will not go to waste as they languish in the window of this shop.
I know- but I think those shoes would be put to far better use in your possession! Then their beauty will not go to waste as they languish in the window of this shop.
Look, you're awfully sweet but I really can't--
[Sweet, sort of. It's mostly just really awkward that he didn't take the hint the first time. Aya feels rather horrible now. If she'd had any idea something like this was going to happen, she wouldn't have asked him.]
[Sweet, sort of. It's mostly just really awkward that he didn't take the hint the first time. Aya feels rather horrible now. If she'd had any idea something like this was going to happen, she wouldn't have asked him.]
[That's Karamatsu for you. When in the presence of a pretty young girl (a prospective Karamatsu girl, if you will) his usual tendency to not be very perceptive about things gets even worse, meaning that he isn't really picking up on her discomfort. All he can think about is assisting her in not only what she'd asked of him, but by also doing her a service in making her day.
At least, that had been the plan.
It's her expression that finally stops him though, since that's not the face of someone whose thrilled by his generosity.]
Ah...is something the matter?
At least, that had been the plan.
It's her expression that finally stops him though, since that's not the face of someone whose thrilled by his generosity.]
Ah...is something the matter?
[Was something the matter? How was anyone this clueless? Aya isn't even paying attention to the shoes anymore. She plucks one pair up and sets the other aside: done deal she's getting this one.]
No, everything is fine. I wanted this pair after all! Thanks for your help!
No, everything is fine. I wanted this pair after all! Thanks for your help!
Ah.
[...]
You're welcome!
[And just like that, he's smiling again, as if that awkward conversation hadn't even taken place.]
If you need anything else, please, don't hesitate to ask! I have quite the eye for fashion, so you've come to the right person for help~
[...]
You're welcome!
[And just like that, he's smiling again, as if that awkward conversation hadn't even taken place.]
If you need anything else, please, don't hesitate to ask! I have quite the eye for fashion, so you've come to the right person for help~
[It's almost cute how clueless he is. What a strange juxtaposition, too, to be dressed in a leather jacket and sunglasses like some James Dean emulator and yet be such a dork behind the shades. Of course the rest of his appearance isn't really in the popular-guy camp but Aya didn't care about that.
She decides since he's letting it drop, she will too.]
I see... Unfortunately, I only came out for a pair of shoes.
[Beat.]
Ah! My name's Fujimiya Aya! It's nice to meet you.
She decides since he's letting it drop, she will too.]
I see... Unfortunately, I only came out for a pair of shoes.
[Beat.]
Ah! My name's Fujimiya Aya! It's nice to meet you.
[The entire town? That was a bit much to agree to... Aya wasn't necessarily opposed to seeing more, or even to doing it as part of a casual date-- provided it was during the day and only to public places-- but she was somewhat dubious there was really so much distinguishing about this area as to require a full canvasing.
After a pause to consider, she tips her head.]
Okay... If you were to recommend just one place in the town a visitor should see, what would it be?
After a pause to consider, she tips her head.]
Okay... If you were to recommend just one place in the town a visitor should see, what would it be?
[Karamatsu has to pause and think on that for a moment, glancing off to one side. Where would he take a girl visitor if he had only one place to bring them?
When he replies, it's automatic and before he can really process what he just said.]
My friend runs an oden stand that serves some of the finest fare this side of Japan.
When he replies, it's automatic and before he can really process what he just said.]
My friend runs an oden stand that serves some of the finest fare this side of Japan.
Page 1 of 4